The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has cautioned desk officers at accredited healthcare facilities against overbilling and engaging in other sharp practices to exploit enrollees.

The Executive Secretary, ASHIA, Augustine Ezeka, gave the warning during the agency’s quarterly meeting with desk officers on Tuesday in Awka.

Mr Ezeka urged the officers to uphold transparency, professionalism and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

He said the desk officers, as representatives of ASHIA at their respective healthcare facilities, had a responsibility to protect the agency’s reputation.

According to him, the officers are responsible for ensuring that enrollees receive services covered by the scheme without unnecessary financial burdens.

“Some of you are indirectly tarnishing the name of the agency we have spent years to establish,” he said.

Mr Ezeka urged the officers not to allow personal interests undermine the agency’s progress.

He directed them to ensure that enrollees were charged strictly in line with the approved drug tariff, emphasising that beneficiaries should not be subjected to unauthorised charges while accessing healthcare services.

He also called on healthcare providers to give proper attention to enrollees covered under the Global Fund programme, without discrimination or stigmatisation.

According to him, every beneficiary deserved to access healthcare services in an environment where dignity, respect and fairness were upheld.

On pre-authorisation codes, Mr Ezeka advised desk officers to provide accurate and complete diagnoses when submitting requests for approval.

“Incomplete or incorrect information can lead to denial of requests and unnecessary delays in accessing healthcare services,” he said.

(NAN)